Change

It’s Sunday night and I’m sat on the sofa cup of tea in hand and it’s time to be honest. Something just hasn’t felt right for me for a while. Sunday’s are normally the day where I would stress out over what I’m going to have scheduled for the week and I’ve decided that’s got to change.

This post is gonna be real talk, unedited and getting my feelings onto paper… or into a blog post. I’m finding ‘adulting’ extremely difficult (I hate that term, but can’t think of a better word for it at the moment). It’s taken me a good six months to realise that I’m trying to do everything – and it’s too bloody hard. I started a new job in January, two weeks later I got engaged and we’ve been planning ever since, and in the past 2 months we’ve gained another dog. On top of that I freelance and pretty much daily blog.

A few weeks ago I was feeling really stressed and I put that down to work, it’s taken me a good fortnight to realise that it wasn’t just work, it’s the mountain of other things I leave myself to contend with on a daily basis. My house is a mess and I can’t keep on top of it, by the time I’ve commuted home I’m shattered and have two dogs to walk (not moaning about that, it’s pretty much the best part of my day). By the time I’m sitting down to relax after cooking and eating it’s nearly ten o clock.

Realistically if I added up all the hours I spend working on my blog in a week it could be at least a part time job by now, and there’s something about that I find daunting and stressful. I feel like I don’t get to sit and read other people’s blogs as much as I want to – or used to, with more comments then I’ve ever had before that in itself can take up an hour a day. To my friends whose blogs I’ve neglected I’m sorry, and to the people I’ve promised I’ll check out your work I’m sorry too, I want to rectify that.

I feel like I’ve been penned myself into a detailed beauty review corner and it’s really hard to come up with that content 20 out of 30 days in a month. No one else is to blame for that but me, and often the posts I enjoy writing most are the ones that have nothing to do with beauty, and I think that’s purely down to overstretching myself in that area. At the moment I spend more time going to work without makeup, or rushing out the door because a dog’s been sick on the carpet and I’ve spent ten minutes cleaning it up – meaning the times I used to photograph things in the morning such as lipstick or eye shadow are a thing of the past. And I’m spending more time than I have in the past ten years with chipped or unpainted nails that the nail focused blog I started off as feels like a figment of my imagination.

I have a pile of lipsticks the size of Everest sat waiting to be reviewed, and three months worth of empties I have no idea what to do with and a cupboard that looks like it’s about to explode. Any photographs I do manage to get I get around to editing a week later and no longer like the images. The weather has been so shit this summer that dedicating time when I get home to redoing my makeup, getting some good pics and getting them edited and scheduled straight away made impossible by the constant looming grey clouds.

Photoshoot Photobomb by dogs "Whatcha Doin?"
Damn dogs photobombing my shot “Whatcha Doin?”

So here’s the point where I want to inject some change. Whilst I do want to remain predominately a beauty blog I’m desperate to mix it up – I don’t want that to define what I do or feel like I can’t blog about anything else. Expect lifestyle posts, OOTD, recipes and maybe what I did at the weekend type posts with more pictures. From now I want to let the content find and inspire me, rather than racking my brains wondering what I haven’t spoken about yet. At the start of the year one of my resolutions was to not blog daily – and whilst I haven’t blogged every single day, I haven’t exactly stripped it back that much. I am going to try and cut it down, but I do still feel a harsh ping every day I miss a post – and I think that’ll be a hard task for me to break the guilt cycle.

Oh balls, just sipped my tea an it’s gone cold, that feels like a metaphor for what I’m trying to say though. I need to readdress the blog/life balance, talk about things that I want to talk about and not let myself be defined by what I think I should be doing.


So I hope you don’t mind, as an old or new reader that there will be a bit of change around here. If you have any suggestions of things you’d like to see please let me know.

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Helpless Whilst Drying

Email: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com

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31 Comments

  1. July 11, 2016 / 6:18 am

    Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being overwhelmed and feeling burnt out! You do so much and you’re so good at keeping your blog updated on top of it — meanwhile I work part-time and I still only write once a week haha. You should scale back to three or two posts a week if that’s what you feel you need to do and if it’s what’s best for you, all of us will be here to support you regardless of whether you write once a day or once a month! <3

    • July 11, 2016 / 4:12 pm

      Thanks Valentina! Think I’m going to preschedule a few posts then scale it back at least for a few weeks and let my brain recoup from being burnt out!

  2. July 11, 2016 / 6:26 am

    I know the feeling. I work a full-time job and then I come home and I feel like almost all of my time is spent on my blog or going through email. Some days I just try to focus on other things now and I don’t have as much time to read other blogs. I try but there’s only so much time in a day with work, kids, a house, etc. Don’t get overly stressed with things. Do whatever you feel you want to do and what makes you happy. Even if that means just a post a week, that’s OK!!

    • July 11, 2016 / 4:11 pm

      Thanks Janine, Find it hard admitting to myself that I can’t be Superwoman and tone it down a little. I’m sure I’ll get there just need to readjust my mindset! x

      • July 12, 2016 / 6:24 am

        My kids start complaining that I didn’t go to the grocery store and on and on. I just think “well, tomorrow is another day”. I used to get super stressed and upset especially when they complained but just do what you can and make sure you are enjoying the time. =)

  3. July 11, 2016 / 6:35 am

    You should post about whatever you want, and I have a BUNCH of products that I have yet to try out to review, but it’s okay. Don’t make blogging seem like a chore or a job, whenever you feel like talking about something, go on and do it. Don’t over stress yourself. xx

  4. July 11, 2016 / 6:53 am

    Change is good….so what, you may lose some readers but your writing and photos are good so you’ll probably gain more!

    Do what’s right for you….if you have to mix it up to make yourself happier so be it. If you’re stressed and unhappy, it won’t take long for your readers to notice.

    Good luck and I hope you feel better soon x

    • July 11, 2016 / 3:01 pm

      PS my blog was supposed to be a sewing blog but I quickly realised that it put me under too much pressure to sew stuff I didn’t like / couldn’t afford/ didn’t have time for. Now it’s a general “stuff I make and do” blog and I’m much happier!

      • July 11, 2016 / 4:08 pm

        Yeah, I soon realised I couldn’t keep up with regular content just posting about nails! Was painting my nails just for the sake of it, and I’d rather say look at this polish, look how well it wears – rather than it looks pretty and I don’t know anything more about it cause I repainted my nails ten minutes later for the next post!

  5. July 11, 2016 / 1:01 pm

    Change is constant, nothing can stay the same forever. While it sounds like you haven’t had the easiest time lately, I hope you are able to find more time for you and for relaxing and don’t ever feel bad for not posting or taking time out for you, everyone understands! x

  6. Wendy
    July 11, 2016 / 3:43 pm

    You do you girl!

  7. July 11, 2016 / 4:14 pm

    I loved that post. It’s real life we all deal with and understand! Wedding plans are stressful enough. Take a breath love, we’ll be here for you!

  8. July 11, 2016 / 5:26 pm

    It’s your blog, you should do whatever you want with it. If you feel like beauty review posts are starting to feel obligatory, and that you want to branch out, that’s a sign that your blog needs some changes!

  9. Anne
    July 11, 2016 / 6:53 pm

    Very honest post and I am sure every single one of us trying to ‘adult’ out there can relate…i certainly can. Your blog should be a fun and relaxing place, so talk about whatever makes you feel happy at a schedule that works for you 🙂
    xo Anne

  10. July 11, 2016 / 8:46 pm

    You got to do what you got to do! This is all supposed to be enjoyable. And it’s a reflection of what you find interesting at this point in your life. I’m still about the makeup, but there’s sometimes travel. I always maintained that I’ll inject crafty stuff in there too. But home decor and cooking – that’s not me at all. So do what makes you happy. This shouldn’t be a source of stress for you! Don’t over extend yourself online… real life already does that! And this online aspect of your life is well within your own control. 🙂

  11. July 11, 2016 / 9:50 pm

    I’m glad you recognize that you need to change something! Best of luck to you!

  12. July 11, 2016 / 11:38 pm

    Understand where you’re coming from! I only blog twice a week, with some other stuff independent to my Instagram, on top of my 40 hour week at work and I find it stressful to fit it all in. Good luck with your fresh start and I look forward to seeing the new content 🙂 X

  13. Karen Rees
    July 12, 2016 / 1:56 pm

    Rachael I know exactly what you’re going through, in fact it feels as if I was reading a letter to myself. I was daily blogging for approx 18 months (up until about a month ago) and was getting utterly overwhelmed with everything else going on in between (working, being a mama, my health issues and trying to set up a business to help me cope with my health issues) honestly, I just got to the point where it all became too much. I’ve stripped it back to blogging 4 days a week and even that can be a challenge some weeks, however (like yourself) blogging is my passion and I couldn’t be without it. What I will say is that the first few weeks of stripping back from daily blogging was guilt overload. I felt awful. But that soon disappears when you find yourself realising that you’ve almost become OCD about getting posts out and that it’s better in the long run…. plus it gives you room to breathe and create features that suit you! I think it’s wonderful that you’re branching into new things as I feel dailiy blogging can make it really easy to corner yourself into one category… which sort of makes things become impersonal. Seeing your OOTD, recipes and a little more about you will be fabulous for readers to get to know more about you. Good on you huni for realising it’s time to take a little step back as that decision isn’t easy, but it will treat us all to a little more of you with fun new posts 🙂 Karen Xo

    Ps: sorry for such a huge reply, this post just really connected with me <3

    • July 12, 2016 / 2:11 pm

      Aww thank you so much Karen! (and taking the time to write a long reply – I really don’t mind!).
      I only started daily blogging for a month as a ‘special’ section for January last year and then just can’t bring myself to stop!
      I have a few scheduled posts in the bank that will give me a breather for a few days and I can just reply to comments and starting thinking of content I want to write going forward! Hopefully it will break that little bit of OCDness you spoke about, I totally relate with that comment!
      Well done on stripping things back, whilst I never comment because I’m usually watching them as I’m getting ready for work, I always watch your videos when I’m getting ready in the morning. You do so well of doing all that on top of your blog – I’ve been planning starting YT too but that’s just another thing on the list of my list, I definitely need to cut back before I start that project!
      xxx

      • Karen Rees
        July 14, 2016 / 1:12 am

        You’re so welcome huni – I’m just glad you got through it all without dozing off!!! lol lol
        Awwwh Rachael knowing that you take the time to watch my vids has really made my day! It means so much to read that!! YouTube has been a bit of a juggling act that’s for sure but as I make the videos part of my blog it kind of helps, as it makes up a post AND I’m getting to post fun content on YouTube 😀 Honestly, if you’re thinking about doing it too, I’d wholeheartedly recommend doing the same and incorporating it into your blogging routine 🙂 PLUS we’d LOVEEEE to see you in action – so first subscriber here for sure *yay* hehe
        Glad you’ve got a few blogs saved in the bank for those days when you just need to breathe. It really helps! And I’m glad you understand the OCD posting thing, I reckon it’s what every daily blogger must go through when cutting back their input at some stage lol Bottom line is that we should never feel like blogging is a chore or that we’re losing our sparkle by getting pinned in a category. Your post has really helped to encourage me to start thinking about putting out more variety in my content too, it’s so easy to keep churning out similar features – mixing it up brings something a little different for everyone 🙂
        Wishing you all the very bestest huni for your future blogging schedule & great posts that you’ll be treating us all too. Have a super week ahead and remember to not to burn yourself out… we’ll will always be here <3 XXXXX

  14. saturdayonwednesday
    July 13, 2016 / 1:24 pm

    I personally enjoy beauty unrelated posts just as much, if not more, so I am really looking forward to them. I hope you learn to relax and find your new regime easier. I do know the struggle, I am very much one of those people who hate to miss a day but I remind myself that missing out on life is worse! I hope you are well <3

  15. July 26, 2016 / 7:37 pm

    Definitely welcoming the expansion and good luck!

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